New Delhi, October 27
In a major relief to hundreds of small industrial unit owners and their workers, the Centre today decided not to relocate industries from areas with more than 70 per cent of manufacturing activity in the national Capital.

The Union Urban Development Minister, Mr Ghulam Navi Azad, after a meeting with Delhi Lt-Governor B. L. Joshi and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, decided to accept the proposal of a sub-group on industrial sector for the master Plan of Delhi 2021 that clusters having more than 70 per cent of manufacturing activity could be developed as industrial areas.

According to sources, enforcement action taken by the Government of Delhi in pursuance of the order of the Supreme Court of May 7, 2004 was noted in the meeting. The administrative difficulties being faced at the ground level were also intimated. Other issues like the large number of workers employed in industrial units and effect of closure of these industries on their livelihood as well as the economy of the national Capital were highlighted.

After discussion of these issues, it was felt that there was a need for a long-term and lasting solution to the problems, keeping in mind the ground realities and order of the Supreme Court.

Parameters and norms for the purpose would be finalised soon. This amendment will be made in the existing Master Plan 2001 and will be in the nature of an enabling provision. Redevelopment of clusters will be taken up after proper survey, identification and verification of boundaries of such clusters existing as of today.

In the meeting it was also decided to include 18 more activities in the list of permissible household industries. The government of Delhi will inform he Supreme Court about this, sources said.

New Delhi, October 27
One person was killed and five were injured in a multiple vehicle collision that took place at Tilak Marg in New Delhi district today. The accident took place at 1.20 pm. The victim, a resident of DDA flats, Dwarka, has been identified as Bhavesh Kumar. The deceased, a scooterist, got sandwiched between two buses.

According to the police, the incident took place at Mathura Road just after the Bhairo Mandir Marg T-Point. Two Blueline buses were chasing each other. The bus (DL-1PB-4609), that was plying on the route number 405, was in speed and was chasing another bus on the same route. In between the two buses, Bhavesh was going on his scooter. As one bus applied the brakes, the rear one smashed into the scooter killing the man on the spot.

Some passengers of the bus also got some injuries and were taken to RML Hospital, where Bhavesh was declared brought dead. According to the DCP New Delhi district, Anita Roy, “No arrest has been made so far, although we have impounded the two buses. The driver of the bus is still at large and we are trying to trace him out.” 

New Delhi, October 27
Despite Delhi being the only state in North India where the Building and Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Condition of Services) Act, 1996, and the Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1996, were implemented about two years back, so far not a single worker has registered himself with the Construction Workers Board as a beneficiary under the Act. Moreover, the expected amount of cess collected has been less than one per cent.

According to a report released by the National Commission for Women (NCW) on the status of women workers in the construction industry, the cess should have yielded a collection of over Rs 100 crore by now, given the scale of construction activity in the Capital. There are as many as eight lakh workers involved in various construction activities in the national Capital.

The Secretary of the Nirman Mazdoor Panchayat Sangam, Mr Subhash Bhatnagar, who is also a member of the board, told The Tribune that the main problem was that the cess was being collected by the Labour Department instead of the local authority sanctioning construction projects in the Capital.

Moreover, it was after a gap of nearly one-year that the Delhi Labour Minister, Mr Mangat Ram Singhal, had called the first meeting of the board recently. In fact, for a long time, the board did not have a chief after the death of the previous chairperson, Mr Deep Chand Bandhu. Even now, the board does not have a cess collector.

In the absence of proper cess collection, the board has failed to provide the promised social security benefits to the construction workers.

Moreover, strict conditions stipulated under the rules, including submitting age proof through birth certificate or a certificate from a medical officer not below the rank of an Assistant Surgeon in a government hospital, were acting as major deterrents. Officials were also reluctant to register workers and were yet to complete the necessary procedures, including printing receipts for the collection of registration fees. In absence of the receipt books, workers approaching the board were being asked to get demand drafts of Rs 25 as registration fee and Rs 60 as quarterly contribution.

Such demands for documentary proofs and complicated procedures were making it difficult for an illiterate labourer to register himself with the board.

The legislation provided for the collection of a cess on all new construction activity at the rate of one to two per cent.

New Delhi, October 27
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today called upon RWAs and other citizens welfare groups to come forward and develop consensus for participation in the MCD’s scheme for giving grants and reimbursement to them under the UAM for performing civic services.

She said at a seminar organised by the MCD while laying the framework for scheme of giving grants and reimbursement to the RWAs and other welfare groups, such as market associations, industrial estates, group housing societies etc. The scheme is part of initiative launched by the civic body to empower the citizens of the Capital and under take responsibilities in their partnership for improving civic amenities in Delhi.

She suggested for formation of apex committee, preferably category wise under the UAM, which would comprise different welfare groups as well as senior officers of the MCD. The corporation should adopt an approach to implement the scheme, which would be acceptable to all the groups. She stressed that the government did not want to force any solution or scheme on the citizens, but it definitely wants to involve citizens in civic activities. The citizens will feel more responsible and involved if the government provides them adequate financial and other kind of support. The Municipal Commissioner, Mr Rakesh Mehta, said that the proposal of giving grants to RWAs for performing civic services would give concrete shape to Bhagidari Scheme.

New Delhi, October 27
Instead of litterbugs, it is the Municipal Magistrates who faced the wrath of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) for not doing enough to keep the localities under their jurisdiction “neat and clean”.

The CMM, Ms Reena Singh Nag, took serious note of sanitation conditions in certain localities and warned that if she finds any locality dirty during her surprise visits, the municipal magistrate concerned “will be held responsible for the lapse and will be dealt with as per law”.

Expressing concern over the “very low” disposal rate of cases before these magistrates in charge of sanitation, health and littering, she said, “Institution of challans before these municipal magistrates is also very less.” Directing all the municipal magistrates to take “personal interest” in keeping the area earmarked to them neat and clean.

Noida, October 27
The Phase-II police have smashed a gang of criminals engaged in the circulation of fake currency notes in the market. Two young men have been arrested with fake currency notes of Rs 87,000. A UP police constable is said to be involved in the racket.

During interrogation, the accused told the police that the fake currency network is spread over Meerut, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Muradabad, Kanpur, Muzzafarnagar with headquarters based in Daurala Meerut. The kingpin of the gang is one Brahanand. Police suspect this gang might have links with the ISI of Pakistan.

According to CO II Uday Shankar, police had got the information that a big deal of fake currency was about to be struck. SO Phase-II police Rakesh Vashisth was asked to track the gang.

While patrolling on Monday night, Rakesh Vashisth learnt that some people were coming to Sector-80 with a big consignment of fake currency. Near Dhruv India Company tri-junction, police arrested Sanjay and leader Piyush.

On frisking, police found Rs 87,000 in fake currency on their persons in denominations of Rs 100 and Rs 50 notes – 793 in Rs 100 and 145 in Rs 50 denominations.

They told the police that they buy Rs 100 notes for Rs 25 from Brahanand in Daurala and sell them for Rs 50 each in Noida. They also try to circulate the notes in Ghaziabad, Bareilly, Moradabad, Muzzfarnagar, Kanpur and other places.

The police had recovered Rs 50,000 from Meerut’s Rijaz Satyam and Dinesh two years ago. Dinesh is a UP policeman. The police are trying to determine Dinesh’s role and whether this network has any links with the ISI of Pakistan.

Dadri (Noida), October 27
The criminals have done it again! They were able to free their colleague Sunder Jat, a dreaded criminal, from the police custody. They first wounded the escorting cops and looted their rifles to boot.

The cops were escorting the criminal after a date in a Delhi Court when his companions sprinkled chilli powder in their eyes and freed their companion from a UP Roadways bus from Ghaziabad to Dadri.

SSP JN Singh said the cops had dozed off, but the criminals woke them up so that chilli powder could be thrown into their eyes and their companion freed.

It is suspected that a notorious criminal, who is a ringleader of Sunder Jat, the criminal freed yesterday, is currently lodged in Dasna jail.

In the past also, criminals have been able to free their colleagues from the police custody, both in Ghaziabad and Bulandhshahr.

Sunder is a notorious criminal of Khurja and an active member of Deepak Jat gang. He would hire taxis along with some woman members and kill the drivers on the way, dump their bodies and hijack the taxis. His woman accomplices are also in Dasna jail these days. This gang used to keep the police on tenterhooks by frequent incidents of motorbike loots on canal bank.

In spite of having committed dozens of crimes in Bulandhshahr, Delhi, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, the security of Sunder Jat had been taken so lightly that the police force could not realise that his companions were also in the same bus in which Sunder was being escorted by the cops, while a few other criminals were ‘escorting’ the bus in a Maruti car.

As the criminals in the cars gave a signal, those in the bus were able to free Sunder Jat along with his handcuffs in a planned way.

When constables Rohtas and Raj Kumar tried to resist, they were fired upon. The condition of Rohtas is said to be serious.

Dadri police could not do anything while the criminals were enacting this escape drama.

New Delhi, October 27
A Nepalese has been sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment by a city court for possessing 1.25 kg of charas.

Additional Sessions Judge B. B. Chaudhary also imposed a fine of Rs one lakh on convict Rattan Singh. The court said if the convict fails to pay the fine, he would have to undergo further imprisonment of two years.

On February 25, 2003 night, police arrested Rattan Singh belonging to Malkona in Nepal from near Hanuman temple at Shadara flyover with the banned drug. A case was registered against him at Civil Lines police station.

During interrogation, Rattan Singh revealed that he was taking the drug to Goa, police said. Later, Forensic Sciences Laboratory tests proved that the substance recovered from Rattan Singh was charas.

New Delhi, October 27
It is one of the Capital’s most cherished monuments that came alive with a generous mix of art and beauty. In the backdrop of the Moghul marvel a performance of the Indian Classical Dance, at the third annual ‘Ananya’, Festival of Classical Dance at Purana Quila, saw the city soak in the joys of a timeless evening.

It began with Raja and Radha Reddy and their troupe, including their two daughters, performing four different items during their Kuchipudi recital. And watching them were an audience seated in the grounds of the Fort watching the goings on around the 52-feet wide stage, specially created for the event.

In her brief remarks to the media, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit who was the chief guest, hailed the unique mingling of classical dance with monuments as it helps to make the citizens proud of their heritage and aware of their duty to keep these silent witnesses to history clean for heredity.

The five-day festival is an attempt to bring about a realisation of the need to keep alive the traditions that form the heritage of the 5000-year old Indian culture. It is being organised by the Tourism Ministry, Delhi Tourism, and the cultural organisation, ‘Seher’, and is supported by the Union Culture Ministry.

Highlighting the vibrancy of contemporary creativity and showcasing artistes who have kept the ancient traditions alive, the festival is using site-specific choreography. It features different dance forms every evening and is dedicated to the memory of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, who had performed at the festival last year. Dr Neena Prasad from Thiruvananthapuram, will perform Mohiniattam this evening, while an Odissi troupe from Kolkata led by Sharmila Biswas would be performing tomorrow. Sharmila’s versality ranges from classical dance to experimental choreography and she is noted for originality in composition, technique and stage design.

On the penultimate day, V. P. Dhananjayan and troupe from Chennai put on a Bharatnatyam performance. A performance of Kathak by the popular Kumudini Lakhia, who has redefined and rendered the form in very special enduring ways, will provide the grand finale to the extravaganza.

New Delhi, October 27
The Leader of Opposition in the Standing Committee, MCD, Mr Vijender Gupta, has demanded that the date of availing 15 per cent rebate on the payment of property tax for the current financial year be extended, besides favourable consideration of the pending and yet to be received objections against the categorisation of the areas as fixed by the Municipal Valuation Committee and refund of the excess property tax with interest paid by the taxpayers of the reclassified areas.

He has demanded that the date for availing of 15 per cent rebate, which is October 31, be extended up to December 31. The reason being that a result of the confusing and tentative policy adopted by the corporation in respect of classification of areas, minor percentage of the tax payers has only been able to pay the tax.

The so-called SARAL return for the property tax issued by the MCD has created confusion and fear, especially among the illiterate and first time property tax payers, mainly residing in the DDA Janta Flats and urbanised villages. It will be very difficult for them to complete the required formalities within the remaining short periods of two or three days and arrangement of the amount of the property tax.

New Delhi, October 27
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit will inaugurate the 10-day MTNL Perfect Health Mela starting from October 29 at Talkatora Gardens. The mela is being organised by the Heart Care Foundation of India, NDMC in association with the government of Delhi, Department of Science and Technology, Govrernment of India and MTNL with a view to creating awareness about the rising incidents of various diseases and the much-needed education on preventive measures.

According to the president of the Heart Care Foundation of India Dr K. K. Aggarwal, the mela has been designed to attract schoolchildren as well as families to visit it as a picnic spot. Day-long cultural activities and educational parleys will be held to make it a recreation destination full of awareness packages.

Meerut, October 27
On the occasion of Infantry Day, the country paid floral tributes to hundreds of soldiers who made a supreme sacrifice in the service of our motherland. October 27, the Infantry Day, is historically significant for the country as on this day 57 years ago, first elements of the Indian Army landed in Srinagar, and resolutely defended Kashmir from falling into the hands of enemy.

The celebrations for Infantry Day were held at the Pine War Memorial where seniormost serving Infantry officers of Meerut station SM, besides other senior and retired Infantry officers paid homage to the martyrs, by laying wreaths. Rich floral tributes were paid to the soldiers who gave their today for our tomorrow.

Maj-General A B Sayyad, General Officer Commanding, Pine Division also held a “Sainik Sammelan” (soldiers’ conference) for all ranks of Infantry in Meerut station. Addressing the soldiers on this occasion, Maj-General A B Sayyad, GOC, Pine Division, said that his ‘bayonet man’ would always be needed for ‘we had the courage’.

History of Infantry can be traced to ancient times. Even in the Vedic period, the duty to carry arms was assigned to Kshatriyas who were proud of their noble vocation. Since the dawn of civilisation when men started waging wars to win and hold territories, the infantryman, soldier on foot, has been in the forefront and will continue to remain in the first row to face the enemy’s attack. 

Greater Noida, October 27
Fifteen students of Divya Public School in Khanpur under Kasna police station, who had fallen sick after taking ‘prasad’, were saved as the police and villagers had rushed them to a private hospital on time. Otherwise it could have resulted in a big tragedy, said doctors of the private hospital.

An hour’s delay could have proved fatal. According to Kasna police, a woman Sheila, wife of Tara, a devotee, had brought prasad to the school. After consuming the prasad, some 15 students, Pinkey, Pooja, Sonu, Ashok, Shah Rukh Khan and others felt acute pain in stomach and giddiness in head. Some of them had vomited also.

The villagers immediately informed District Magistrate Santosh Kumar Yadav on telephone who ordered Kasna police to rush to the school immediately.

The police with the help of the village chief and others rushed the students to Navin Hospital.

No report has been lodged with the police though the villagers alleged that the woman had mixed poison in the prasad. All the students are, however, out of danger now. The police are investigating.

Ghaziabad, October 27
A youth is alleged to have stabbed a woman and her minor daughter when the woman, a neighbour, had objected to his indecent behaviour in Dayal Puri Colony under Sihani Gate police station, Ghaziabad.

The condition of both mother and daughter is serious. The livid people of the locality had caught hold of the fleeing youth and thrashed him thoroughly before handing him over to the police.

Deepak, son of Arjun, resident of Shiv Dayal Puri, is a tempo driver. Deepak used to harass 14-year-old Kamini, daughter of Shiv Charan, a Ministry of Defence employee in Delhi.

A few days ago, Shiv Charan had beaten up Deepak when he had teased his daughter. Yesterday again when he tried to harass the young girl, Shiv Charan beat him up. In order to settle a score, Deepak attacked Shiv Charan’s wife Vimlesh with a knife and when their daughter Kamini tried to save her mother, she was also attacked. Later, Deepak fled from the place.

Hearing the commotion, some residents of the locality chased Deepak and finally caught him. Deepak was beaten up and handed over to police. The police rushed the seriously injured Vimlesh and her daughter to district hospital, from where they were shifted to Ganesh Hospital as their condition was stated to be deteriorating. The police have also taken Deepak to the hospital for treatment. A report for attempted murder has been registered.

Gurgaon, October 27
An anonymous caller threatened a senior lecturer with dire consequences as the lecturer was very strict and did not allow copying in the recently held university examinations. The district police have failed to trace the caller so far. Lecturer Mr Surjit Misree lodged the complaint with the Sohna police station just after receiving the call at his residence on October 23.

The person calling from a mobile phone threatened the lecturer acting as an observer at Dronacharya Government College, Gurgaon. Supplementary examinations of graduate classes of Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, were held from October 1 to October 20 in different colleges of south Haryana.

Mr Surjit Misree is known to be a tough examiner in the university.

That was perhaps the reason that he was appointed as an observer in Dronacharya Government College, Gurgaon.

Greater Noida, October 27
In view of the dispute on border demarcation between UP and Haryana, the farmers of both the states can again clash at the time of harvesting crop.

District Magistrate, Noida, Santosh Yadav has issued special instructions to Dy District Magistrate Javer J.B. Singh, to take precautions and ensure that harvesting is completed peacefully.

The Dy District Magistrate has also been asked to establish contact with the district authorities in Faridabad district of Haryana to impress upon the need to ensure peaceful harvesting by Haryana farmers.

The District Magistrate, Noida, has also issued instructions for special security measures in Sham Nagar, Govind Garh, Sirsa Khaddar villages at the time of harvesting.

It may be recalled that in clashes between the farmers of UP and Haryana over 680-bigha land, more than two dozen persons have lost their lives. The dispute is two decades old.